#omega reader

Dr. Mech is a renowned wolf researcher who actually invented the term 'alpha wolf' back in 1970 — and has spent decades trying to take it back. Turns out his original research was based on captive wolves, which behave nothing like wolves in the wild. Wild wolf packs aren't a dominance hierarchy at all. They're just a family. Mum, dad, and the kids. The 'alpha' pair are simply the parents.

He's been pushing back against the concept ever since — writing papers, pulling his original book from print, and watching helplessly as 'alpha' took over pop culture, dog training, and apparently an entire romance subgenre.

But here's the thing. In omegaverse romance, the alphas aren't aggressive dominance-obsessed pack leaders. At their best — and the heroes of Knot for Real are absolutely at their best — they're loving protectors. Devoted. Loyal. The kind of men who would burn things down before they let their person feel unsafe.

Basically just good dads in wolf terms.

Chapter 7: He’s a Softie

Summary:

Chapter title says it all. Enjoy some fluff 💜

Meet Melanie - bookshop owner, accidental BDSM comedian, full-time disaster. We love her.

I just lost like 3/4 of this because the draft disappeared, and now it's ten times worse than before because I'm frustrated.... Fuck my life kings.

A mission gone slightly sideways ended with Nikolai's heli crashing along with the newest addition to Task Force 141: an omega sergeant.

It wasn't anything spectacular, Price was an omega, Gaz and Soap were betas, and Ghost biologically an alpha though in body and mind more of a beta due to extreme trauma.

The omega ended up okay, though Nikolai took some bad hits in the crash and needed med-evac. The omega followed considering he was rendered useless without Nik and the heli.

Thankfully the others could complete the mission by themselves, a little slower and more stealth than originally thought due to the lack of air support, but all in all successful.

Afterwards they arrived at the base to which hospital Nik was brought to, but were surprised at the lack of one sergeant.

A nurse was quickly questioned and he explained that when they landed Nikolai's state had deteriorated. He'd needed surgery for internal bleeding.

It had been okay in the beginning. Sure, the omega had been worried and glanced suspiciously at every person who came close, but with Nikolai alert and reassuring it had been fine.

Then he'd dropped and suddenly it wasn't.

One medic had moved a little too quick when going to check him over and the omega had tackled him with a vicious snarl.

Of course everyone else available reacted and tried to get control of the situation, but to no avail. Nikolai really needed the care, and thankfully, after many bites and scratches, someone manage to sedate the feral man.

He was in another room and expected to wake up within the hour, and they were very glad the captain, and pack leader, had arrived since it was now his decision how to handle it.

Tranquilise him, restrain him, or put him with Nikolai with the risk of having to sedate him again should he compromise the alpha's care.

Deciding was easy: the omega would stay with Nik, and (if possible) no nurses would be there but the pack would. Hopefully that would keep the omega calm and allow the doctors to do their jobs.

When the omega came to the first thing he noticed was Nikolai's scent, and the next a group of people in the back of the room.

Naturally he did what his instincts told him, so he launched from the bed, lunged at the strangers, and tore their throats out before returning to Nik's side.

At least that's what he was gonna do.

In reality he stumbled to the ground after the first step, then yowled in anger at the figure approaching him. He was just about to attack when his nose was forced into the man's scentgland and the smell of pack omega washed over him.

"Price- help," he pleaded. "They're gonna take him, they- I don't want them to!"

Price would be lying if he said that the possessive streak in him wasn't awakened at that.

He would never admit it, but his four boys were his pups, as close as he'd get to it anyways. And seeing one of them distraught was hard.

Thankfully he was still rational.

"They're not though," he purred, pushing a calming scent. "He's sick, injured, and he needs their help. The worst is over, but they're gonna need to do their jobs a little while longer."

Another pained yowl escaped the omega's throat and he clung desperately onto the safety of his leader.

"Come, take it easy." Price cooed gently, nearly retching at the rotten stench of distraught omega in the room.

The captain basically carried all of the other's weight as he helped him to his bed and sat him down.

Then he pushed it a bit closer to Nik's bed to make sure the omega had a clear view of the other.

"He's okay, see?" Price reassured. "They're gonna come in, they're gonna touch, stick and poke him, but they're not going to take him. Understand?"

Price got a small nod in response, good enough with the way the other omega's gaze was stuck on the alpha.

This needed an explanation, that much was clear.

"Well, it's very common that an omega, alpha, or beta go - excuse my wording - feral when their mate gets injured." the doctor explained, pulling up a chart and completely missing the confused expression of the captain.

"However, there is a concern we are obligated to bring up." she continued. "There is no record of a post-mate checkup for either of them, which makes us worried first of all for their health, but also if there was anything making them unsafe to the point they want to keep this off the books."

The doctor looked truly worried, even more so at Price's bewildered face.

"They're not mated, though." he replied slowly, feeling doubt despite all the calculations he made. Could he have missed such a big thing?

"I understand if this is shocking, but we hope you see this from the perspective of a pack leader and not a captain." she said sternly. "It's in your best interest that you behave, otherwise our security over there will happily-"

"They're not mated." Price cut off. "I'm telling you- we shower together, we're in close proximity without scent blockers, it would've been obvious if a bite appeared or if their scent changed."

The woman paused, taking in what Price said. Now that she thought about it, there hadn't been a bite on eithers neck.

She zoned out for a second to run the diagnostic through he head, something Price had seen in many soldiers whose minds ran too quick.

"Alright." she mumbled softly. "So the condition your sergeant has is an imprint. It means that he's trauma bonded with someone, usually pack, where the fear he experienced caused his body to go into such a protective mode that his chemical balance shifted to that of a mated omega.

"In other words: his body thinks he's mated to Nikolai, and the distress he's in clouds his rational mind and makes him think he's actively losing his mate."

Captain Jonathan Price had seen a shit tonne of stuff throughout the years, but this one definitely took the cake.

"What can be done?" he asked tentatively.

The doctor sighed, glanced into the room and at the omega whining at Nikolai's bedside.

The look Price received then was pure empathy.

"The chemical change is almost permanent, just like every actual bond." she began. "Which means that Nikolai has a decision to make. He either starts a courtship with the omega, which the omega will just see as a strengthening of their bond or test of his capabilities, or he'll have to reject him, which as you know can lead to depression and even suicidal tendencies. Should it work out in the end it'll still be extremely demanding on body and mind."

Price hummed in deep thought.

CAUTION: Slippery when reading.